MS 361 not oiling bar?

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jj3500

Member
Oct 7, 2008
228
Orange County, N.Y. Southeast corner.
Bucking logs today...I noticed my bar is kind of dry. Checked reservoir...half full. Continue...bar is still not lubing up. Top off reservoir...continue...still dry. I rev it up facing a dry surface. No fly off. I've taken chain and bar off. Cleaned off entire area under lid. Also took off that stainless steel cover held in with straight screw. All clean. Still not lubing....?

Stihl is just a year old...light use.

Help please.
 
Did you turn the oiler up? When I got my 290 it didn't throw enough oil to make me happy.

After that I'd pull the intake hose out to see if it's plugged with sawdust at the end or kinked.

Matt
 
jj3500 said:
Bucking logs today...I noticed my bar is kind of dry. Checked reservoir...half full. Continue...bar is still not lubing up. Top off reservoir...continue...still dry. I rev it up facing a dry surface. No fly off. I've taken chain and bar off. Cleaned off entire area under lid. Also took off that stainless steel cover held in with straight screw. All clean. Still not lubing....?

Stihl is just a year old...light use.

Help please.
Click to expand...

Use thinner oil.
 
Thinner oil.....when I look inside it moves around like water with the motor in at full temp. ?
 
Dont bring it to hudson valley power equipment (I think thats the name of the place) on 17 in Monroe heading in to chester.

The same thing happend to me last year on my older 038 AV. I brought it to them and they told me it should take about a week to fix because they were very busy. I figured a week wasnt so bad. I didnt get it back for over 6 weeks. I had to put my little husky to the test while the steel was getting fixed.

Every other day I would call and they would say that the repair guy started working on it but got sidetracked by landscapers and tree guys who needed their saws. I got pissed and should have picked it up and brought it elsewhere but had so much going on that summer that I didnt have much time.

It sounds like they bend over backwards for the landscapers who buy equipment from them but dont give a crap about anyone else.
 
jj3500 said:
Thinner oil.....when I look inside it moves around like water with the motor in at full temp. ?
Click to expand...

Next question: Other than the fact that you can't see it flinging off the end of the bar is there any other indications that your bar is being under-oiled? As a rule you should go through about 1/2 tank of oil for every tank of fuel. Are you using noticeably less oil than that?
 
Mine wasn't oiling as much as I'd like but it wasn't burning up the bar or anything so it was probably *technically* fine. I run a 20" Oregon bar on mine, I turned the oiler all the way up and still wasn't happy so I opened up the lube holes on the bar a couple drill bit sizes. I haven't done any major cutting with it since then but it seems to be better.
 
I run a 460 and never seen any oil flying off the end of the bar and the pump is wide open! Whith this heat we have right now the bar can get to hot to pick even up.
 
Take the cover, bar and chain off and start the saw. Let it sit a minute (may have to rev a little if the 361 doesn't oil at idle). Is there oil coming out of the exit hole? If so, most likely your intake hole on the bar is clogged and needs cleaned. If no oil is coming out of the intake hole then you'll need to mess with hose like Limestone said.
 
Bigg_Redd said:
jj3500 said:
Thinner oil.....when I look inside it moves around like water with the motor in at full temp. ?
Click to expand...

Next question: Other than the fact that you can't see it flinging off the end of the bar is there any other indications that your bar is being under-oiled? As a rule you should go through about 1/2 tank of oil for every tank of fuel. Are you using noticeably less oil than that?
Click to expand...

Saw was running normal last time I used it. No abnormal consumptions of oil or two stroke fuel. It just stopped lubing.
Also, I try not to top off the bar oil. My saw has leaked this oil in the past without any real reason. Has been good for past several months though.
 
Wood Pirate said:
Dont bring it to hudson valley power equipment (I think thats the name of the place) on 17 in Monroe heading in to chester.

The same thing happend to me last year on my older 038 AV. I brought it to them and they told me it should take about a week to fix because they were very busy. I figured a week wasnt so bad. I didnt get it back for over 6 weeks. I had to put my little husky to the test while the steel was getting fixed.

Every other day I would call and they would say that the repair guy started working on it but got sidetracked by landscapers and tree guys who needed their saws. I got pissed and should have picked it up and brought it elsewhere but had so much going on that summer that I didnt have much time.

It sounds like they bend over backwards for the landscapers who buy equipment from them but dont give a crap about anyone else.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that info. But no, I've got two Stihl dealers closer to home. Where I've been going, they've been really good. Talk my ear off with how to use, recommendations etc etc. They really cater to their customers.
 
I increased the bar oil flow. That did the trick. But why would I need to do that after a year of use? Chips in the reservoir...very very slim chance that I let that much in there to clog up intake.

Any ideas?
 
jj3500 said:
Wood Pirate said:
Dont bring it to hudson valley power equipment (I think thats the name of the place) on 17 in Monroe heading in to chester.

The same thing happend to me last year on my older 038 AV. I brought it to them and they told me it should take about a week to fix because they were very busy. I figured a week wasnt so bad. I didnt get it back for over 6 weeks. I had to put my little husky to the test while the steel was getting fixed.

Every other day I would call and they would say that the repair guy started working on it but got sidetracked by landscapers and tree guys who needed their saws. I got pissed and should have picked it up and brought it elsewhere but had so much going on that summer that I didnt have much time.

It sounds like they bend over backwards for the landscapers who buy equipment from them but dont give a crap about anyone else.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that info. But no, I've got two Stihl dealers closer to home. Where I've been going, they've been really good. Talk my ear off with how to use, recommendations etc etc. They really cater to their customers.
Click to expand...

Who do you use if you dont mind me asking for future reference.
 
jj3500 said:
Chips in the reservoir...Any ideas?
Click to expand...

A likely culprit.

Many years ago after a plugged oil or fuel issue I started a new procedure before refueling/oiling. Put the saw on a stump and whisk broom the saw off before removing any caps.
 
Wood Pirate said:
jj3500 said:
Wood Pirate said:
Dont bring it to hudson valley power equipment (I think thats the name of the place) on 17 in Monroe heading in to chester.

The same thing happend to me last year on my older 038 AV. I brought it to them and they told me it should take about a week to fix because they were very busy. I figured a week wasnt so bad. I didnt get it back for over 6 weeks. I had to put my little husky to the test while the steel was getting fixed.

Every other day I would call and they would say that the repair guy started working on it but got sidetracked by landscapers and tree guys who needed their saws. I got pissed and should have picked it up and brought it elsewhere but had so much going on that summer that I didnt have much time.

It sounds like they bend over backwards for the landscapers who buy equipment from them but dont give a crap about anyone else.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that info. But no, I've got two Stihl dealers closer to home. Where I've been going, they've been really good. Talk my ear off with how to use, recommendations etc etc. They really cater to their customers.
Click to expand...

Who do you use if you dont mind me asking for future reference.
Click to expand...

Nope...not at all.


Here is one....
To give you an idea of location. They are about 2 miles north of Newburgh Beacon bridge on 9W. Left side (on south bound side). Have to keep your eyes open. They are set way off the main road.

Al's Power Equipment
Full-line Sales & Service Dealer
5309 Route 9W
Newburgh, NY 12550
(845) 561-7615


Second....
The one below is where I go normally. Great guys! Ask for Chip.

Sherwood's Power Equipment
Full-line Sales & Service Dealer
1775 Route 300
Newburgh, NY 12550
(845) 564-0630
 
jj3500 said:
I increased the bar oil flow. That did the trick. But why would I need to do that after a year of use? Chips in the reservoir...very very slim chance that I let that much in there to clog up intake.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

I take my statement back. I tried to buck some yesterday...still the same. Now I have to check out my oil reservoir. Its got to be that....
 
I bought a used 361, and the guy at the Stihl dealer took the cover off and checked to make sure the oiler "O" ring was in place correctly, or he said, it would not oil properly. You may want to check that.
 
Took my saw to the original dealer. He fixed it in about 5 mins. Apparently, the saw had some sort of vacuum lock on the bar oil. He ran it fully closed for a minute or so...revving it. He then ran it fully open and that brought it back to normal. Chain looks good again. Has that wet just oiled look.
 
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